Jumping frog toy



Dec. 26, 1950 R. Q ROBERTS 2,535,868

JUMPING FROG TOY Filed Aug. 15, 1946 Rel/01d $130k? Patented Dec. 26, 1950 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE JUMPING FROG TOY Roland Q. Roberts, Chicago, 111.

Application August 13, 1946, Serial No. 690,232

, 2 Claims. 1

The object of the invention is to provide a toy novelty having the appearance generally of a jumping creature and so constructed that it can be made to simulate the movements of such creatures; to provide a device of the kind indicated which may be safely used by children to stimulate their interest and hold their attention; and generally to provide a toy which will have all the interest producing qualities of intricate and expensive toys but which may be manufactured and sold at a low price.

With these objects in view, the invention con Figure 2 is a top plan view with the parts set preparatory to having it effect a jump;

Figure 3 is an edge elevational view of the structure of Figure 2;

Figure 4 is likewise an edge elevational view showing the parts in the intermediate positions they assume in the performance of the jumping operation; and

Figure 5 is still another edge elevational view showing the relative positions of the parts at about the time the device is cast into the air to simulate a jump.

In the illustrated embodiment of the invention, the plates In and II, which, with the idea of cheapness of manufacture in mind, are made preferably of pasteboard, have their obverse and reverse faces impressed, as at [2, with the figure of a jumping creature-in the present case, that of a frog.

The two plates are hingedly connected for relative angular movement and the hinge is in the form of strips I4, preferably of the substance known as cellophane, these strips being adhesively secured to the opposite faces of the plates and spanning the adjacent edges thereof. By reason of such construction relative swinging of the two plates is possible and they can be relatively moved to place either their obverse faces or reverse faces in contact.

The actuator for eifecting the jumping opera tion is in the form of an elastic band which is terminally anchored by means of staples IE to the two plates. the band being secured against the obverse faces of the plates in the longitudinal center line thereof but at points remote from the hinged connection between the plates. When the plates are positioned with their reverse faces in contact, the band, extending around the hinged edges, is subjected to its greatest strain and will, if unrestrained, contract, thus moving the obverse faces toward each other. This operation is what accomplishes the jumping function, if the plates are positioned in superposed relation on a substantially horizontal supporting surface.

In order to restrain the elastic band when under its extreme tension, a latch is provided and this latch is of simple construction, being formed from a single strand of stiff wire bent into a loop IT with one extremity extended to constitute a finger piece I8 and the other extremity bent to form a lip [9. The latch is formed after the strand is passed through the perforation 20 in the plate In and the loop I! serves as a means for swingingly mounting the latch, so that when the reverse faces of the plates are brought together, the bill I9 may be engaged with the plate I I at the free edge thereof.

Although the operation of the invention is described as the specific description of the construction progresses, it may be summarized as follows: The device will not assume the positions of the parts, as shown in Figure 1, unless so supported that the plate II will fall away from the plate II), as was done for clarity of illustration, but the plat II will lie substantially flat on the plate In with the band l5 collapsed between them. In this latter position the obverse faces are in contact. The operation of the invention consists of swinging the two plates relatively until their reverse faces are in contact when the band I5 will be stretched around the hinged edges, as clearly shown in Figures 2 and 3. To retain the plates in these positions the latch bill I!) is engaged with the plate I I. With the parts in such positions, if the device be placed on the floor or on a table with the plate ill in contact therewith, the latch may be released by deflecting it through the medium of the finger piece 58. The band 15, being then unrestrained, will begin to retract, the retraction being slight and retarded until the plate I] is swung into contact with the supporting surface, as shown in Figure 4. After the plates reach the relative positions indicated in Figure 4, the contraction of the band will be fast and intense, resulting in moving the two plates into the positions shown in Figure 5, when the free end edges of the two traversing the sup- 3 porting surface in quick movement will cause the whole device to be cast into the air simulating a jump.

The invention having been described, what is claimed as new and useful is:

1. A jumping frog toy comprising a pair of plates each of which is impressed on its obverse and reverse faces with the figure of a frog appearing as if looking down upon the back of the gure, the plates being hingedly connected at one end for relative swinging movement to superimpose one upon the other, and an elastic band terminally anchored one end to each of the plates at points lying in the longitudinal centerlines of the latter but remote from the hinged connection, whereby, when the plates are swung into superimposition with the elastic band exterior thereto, the band will be tensioned around the hinged ends so that, if one plate be disposed flat on a supporting surface with the other end restrained, the other plate when released will be swung around on the hinged connection to finally strike the supporting surface with an impact sufiicient to cast both plates in the air and give the impression of the figure jumping.

2. The structure of claim 1 combined with a latch swingingly connected with one of the plates at the latters free end and releasably engageable, with the corresponding end of the other plate.

ROLAND Q. ROBERTS.

file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Name Date Chesney July 20, 1915 Number 

